CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2012 Grand Cherokee hasn't seen the same complaint volume as the 2011, at least not yet.
It's worth noting both model years are part of a class-action lawsuit that focuses on a defective TIPM and a long wait for replacement parts.
The 2012 also received national attention after it failed a Swedish Magazine's "moose test". The test measures a vehicle's ability to swerve out of the way of an obstacle you wouldn't want to hit while driving down the road ... like a moose.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 83
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,513 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Fuel pump, recall done but not effective. Almost three times a week, the Jeep Grand Cherokee does not start or stalls right after starting. This is when I am parked and will just keep cranking and not start. The dealer wants to charge me to replace the fuel pump and does not acknowledge the recall is faulty. Driving on the highway, the car stalled on me for no reason and then took 5 minutes of cranking to finally start again. Luckily I was not in the middle lane on I95. At first it happened once or twice a week, now it is almost everyday.
Fuel pump relay failed after being replaced by recall. Occasionally the car would not start. Most recently the car stalled on me while in traffic. The first time I was able to coast to the shoulder and restart the car. The second, and last time it stalled, I was turning off a residential side street onto a major 4 lane road during rush hour. It stalled in the intersection. I could not restart it. I was told by my auto shop that the part has not been improved, only replaced. That is not a fix!
The automatic charging system light came on 2 hours into driving North on the highway to Wisconsin from Chicago. There was no human action that correlated with the light coming on. It simply came on when going consistent speed on the highway in no traffic. I learned from the driver's manual that this most likely meant that the alternator had failed and I needed to get assistance immediately. I took the car into a repair shop on a Thursday where it would remain for 10 days as things began to unfold. The employees of the repair shop could identify no fault in the alternator after thorough inspection and driving tests. The warning light had turned off. However, after it had been cleared of all inspection and turned on, there was an enormous failure in the car causing it to smoke. Without warning, the alternator caused such a massive short that it not only failed itself, but also broke the car's engine computer. I come to find out that there was a recall by Chrysler (T36) for this specific issue and included 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee's. I was never made aware of this recall but there is no question that this failure is specific to the manufacturing errors by Chrysler Jeep. There have been a total of 10 recalls on the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 3 of which have been specific to this vehicle, and clearly, now a 4th. This could have been a been an incredibly dangerous situation and the failure by Chrysler to notify me or include my vehicle in their recall is preposterous. I have documentation regarding repair and claims attached. More info and claim documents available upon request.
The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee will crank with no start. The Jeep refuses to fire up, it will crank for long periods of time but will absolutely not start up. Could be an electrical issue or fuel pump relay or engine. Seems a lot of friends of mine are having the same issue with this very same model. Please help me with the defective car.
- Houston, TX, USA
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The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle would crank, but not start. The failure occurred randomly within three months of owning the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V115000 (electrical system), but it failed to permanently repair the vehicle. The dealer (breeden Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, 5900 us-71 bus, fort smith, ar 72908, (888) 611-0803) indicated that the totally integrated power module with the internal fuel pump relay needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and suggested that the part be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000. Consumer stated car was taken to the dealer 3 times and they couldn't fix the problem. Part was installed for $1,250.
My Jeep cuts off when I'm driving and stalls at times the check engine light has been on also since I purchased it. Was told the codes had to be reset. Took vehicle to dealer over 10 times after I purchased it dealer sent it out other places seen nothing turned off codes it seemed ok then every since then it does the same thing over and over now my warranty is out they see an issue I had extended but they only repaired recalls they say but my lights still fog from the recall and electrical still issue!
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving approximately 35 mph, white smoke emerged from the engine compartment. The vehicle was turned off, the hood was opened, and flames appeared. As soon as the battery was disconnected, the fire stopped. Neither the police nor the fire departments were notified. The vehicle was repaired on 1/16/18 by the dealer (a. J. dohmann Chrysler Inc, 802 robinson drive, berwick, la 70342) for unknown recalls relating to the brake booster and alternator. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and case number: 34683314 was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 80 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. Nissani brothers Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram (5750 mesmer ave ste B, culver city, ca 90230) diagnosed that the totally integrated power module (tipm) needed to be replaced. In addition, the dealer stated that a representative from Chrysler needed to contact them in order to perform the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the tipm should have been covered under an unknown recall. A VIN tool search found no recalls for the vehicle. The failure mileage was 50,000.
Have contacted dealer numerous times to address two recalls. They state still waiting for parts. Have been waiting more than one year to have these recalls addressed.
The alternator has been whining for about 6 months and the battery light periodically illuminates. There is a recall on this issue but the part is on back order if I want the recall completed, they can have it changed tomorrow if I pay for it out of pocket. Makes no sense when people's lives are at stake.
Alternator and PCM was supposedly replaced in July 2017. However, I now have the same problem and it is worse. The battery light will come on initially then all of a sudden the windshield wipers start, radio will shut off and then the air conditioning suddenly started to blow out how air and it was blown at the feet. I tried rolling down the window but was unable to do so. This happened a few more times when under regular stress of driving on the highway!
After returning home from a 190 mile trip, during which we experienced no maintenance issues or warning lights, my wife and I parked our Jeep in our underground garage. Upon unpacking our car we could smell, what appeared to be, an electrical smell with a cloud of smoke forming around the car. We were forced to use the emergency key to reenter the car to inspect it for fire and to open the hood in order to check the electrical system. We observed the car for approximately ten minutes until the smoke cleared to ensure there was no lingering fire. The Jeep was towed to an auto shop where they determined that the alternator had completely shorted out, thereby destroying the entire electrical system including the alternator, computer and battery. We consider ourselves very fortunate that this incident did not occur while we were driving on the interstate, or the chesapeake bay bridge which was on our route. We have since learned that Chrysler had issued a recall for this alternator in 2017. However, we were never notified about the recall. We are concerned that this could happen to someone else on the highway while they are driving and could be devastating if they lose control of the car due to the loss of power, or worse, a fire. We are hoping to be reimbursed by Chrysler for the cost of repair which totaled $2,900.
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 30 mph, smoke appeared from under the hood. The vehicle was towed to champion of Decatur Inc. (3831 us-31, Decatur, al 35603) where it was diagnosed that the alternator was faulty. The vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 17V435000 (electrical system), but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer a second time and the computer system was reset. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 96,000.
I had a recall on alternator which I had recall on and didn't received a letter in the mail. So one day I was driving with my family and I smell smoke coming my hood which I thought my car was on fire so I pull over and got out the car and call road side service to tow my car to championship of Decatur. They fix the recall on the alternator and didn't replace my battery which was low. They charge my battery and everything was fine so I pick my car up and when down the street for 4 miles and my car cut off again so I had to get to auto zone to get a battery. I have a new battery and alternator and my Jeep is still no powering on. I do not feel safe driving my vehicle anymore I have a 1 year daughter and another baby due any day now. So how can we resole this issue its not safe having a electrical system problem.
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. Lou fusz Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat (3480 state hwy K, O'fallon, mo 63368, (636) 442-8100) was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 87,164.
My car was recalled for the alternator problem and repaired. In the last couple of weeks the vehicle is making the same noises it did wh N the alternator failed.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Greenwich, CT, USA